About Cliffsend Parish Council

The Parish Council is the first level of government, with representation closest to the electors. We deal with all the local issues which specifically affect Cliffsend. All councillors must either work or live in or close by the village.

Parish councillors receive no remuneration. They are all volunteers who willingly give their time and skills for the benefit of the village. The only paid member of staff is our part time clerk. Unlike District and County Councillors, Parish Councillors do not bring any political allegiances to their work. All Council business is strictly controlled. Councillors must declare in writing any personal interest and abstain from debating and voting on matters which affect them or their families. The activities of the council are controlled by the law and our finances are regularly audited by the National Audit Commission.

Parish Council:

· Give views, on behalf of the community, on planning applications and other proposals that affect the parish

· Undertake projects and schemes that benefit local residents

· Work in partnership with other bodies to achieve benefits for the parish

· Alert relevant authorities to problems that arise or work that needs to be undertaken

· And help the other tiers of the local government keep in touch with their local communities

Transparency Code for Smaller Authorities

This Code is issued to meet the Goverment’s desire to place more power into citizens’ hands to increase democratic accountability. Transparency gives local people the tools and information they need to hold local public bodies to account.

The local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 sets out a new audit framework for local public authorities which are currently covered by the Audit Commission regime. Under the new audit framework smaller authorities, including parish councils, internal drainage boards, charter trustees and port health authorities, with an annual turnover not exceeding £25,000 will be exempt from routine external audit. In place of routine audit, these smaller authorities will be subject to the new transparency requirements laid out in this Code. This will enable local electors and ratepayers to access relevant information about the authorities’ accounts and governance.

The Government considers that publication of the items in this Code will provide the local electorate and ratepayers with a clear picture of the activities of these smaller authorities.

Listed below are the items which are required for publication under this Code. Please click on each item for the relevant details.